Porophyllum ruderale

Porophyllum ruderale is an herbaceous annual plant whose leaves can be used for seasoning food. The taste has been described as "somewhere between arugula, cilantro and rue".[1] The plant is commonly grown in Mexico and South America for use in salsas. When fully grown, the plant measures about 150 cm (5 ft) in height and 90 cm (3 ft) in diameter.

Porophyllum ruderale
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Porophyllum
Species:
P. ruderale
Binomial name
Porophyllum ruderale
(Jacq.) Cass.

The plant is easy to grow from seed in a well-drained soil, which should be allowed to dry between watering.

Culture

Having been used by many cultures, Porophyllum ruderale is known by many names, including Bolivian coriander, quillquiña (also spelled quirquiña or quilquiña), yerba porosa, killi, pápalo, tepegua, rupay wachi, mampuritu, pápaloquelite and summer cilantro. Despite the name "Bolivian coriander" and "summer cilantro", this plant is not botanically related to Coriandrum sativum.

The terms pápaloquelite and pápalo are used in Mexico, and the herb there commonly accompanies tacos. Not all Mexicans enjoy its taste, but some find that it improves the flavor of tacos and typical Mexican salsas and soups.

In Bolivia it is typically used as an ingredient along with tomatoes and locotos to prepare llajwa.

In Puebla cuisine, pápalo is used as a condiment on traditional cemita sandwiches, a regional type of Mexican torta.

Pápalo was used in the Azteca era, but never as medicine, only as food.

One study claims that pápalo exhibits some health benefits such as lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, and aiding digestion.[2]

Medical uses

Papalo is a plant that is used medically to reduce swelling of infected injuries. It is also known to be consumed to help with high blood pressure, treating liver ailments, and to help with stomach disorders.

References
  1. Green, Aliza (2006). Field Guide to Herbs & Spices: how to identify, select, and use virtually every seasoning at the market. Philadelphia: Quirk Books. p. 67. ISBN 978-1594740824.
  2. "Ventajas De Consumir Pápalo "Papaloquelite" – Página 572 – Tips de Nutrición". Tipsdenutricion.com. Retrieved 29 July 2018.

3. Nair, P. (2017, May 14). Health benefits of papalo. Value Food. https://www.valuefood.info/2096/health-benefits-of-papalo/

4. Ravindran, P. (2018). The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Spices: Two Volume Set (Vol. 2). CABI.

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